Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Phosagro – Phosagro – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Moscow. February 25, 2026. PhosAgro CEO Alexander Gilgenberg participated in the forum "Responsible Business Practices: Social Aspects of Business's Contribution to Achieving National Goals" as part of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) Russian Business Week.
Discussions included business participation in achieving national and sustainable development goals, assessing companies' contributions to addressing socially significant challenges, and various aspects of business's impact on social well-being, including through corporate social programs, technological advances, social investments in regions, assessment tools, and mechanisms to support responsible business practices.
RSPP President Alexander Shokhin opened the forum: "Business participation in addressing strategic sustainable development challenges and achieving national goals is a topic of ongoing dialogue between business and government, and one of the key issues traditionally discussed during Russian Business Weeks. Business's contribution to achieving our country's development priorities includes improving the quality and efficiency of human capital. All national goals are, to one degree or another, related to achieving this goal."
Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova addressed the participants with a welcoming speech. She emphasized the importance of corporate support for employees. "One of the key national goals announced by the Russian President is preserving the population, improving health and well-being, and supporting families. Business participation in achieving this goal is a strategic contribution to the future of Russia and to the development of the companies themselves, as corporate support for employees helps build a sustainable, motivated workforce," the Deputy Prime Minister stated.
The forum was attended by Olga Batalina, First Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation; Maxim Topilin, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy; Andrey Shpilenko, Deputy Chairman of the Omsk Region Government; and company executives.
Olga Batalina, First Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation, emphasized how corporate social practices help employees realize their potential as parents and the high value of family for Russians.
"When we talk about implementing a corporate demographic standard, we're not talking about increasing expenses per se, but about prioritizing them. The RTK recommendations, which we consider a corporate demographic standard, are designed to help employers build a systematic approach to women who want to become mothers without worrying about their career prospects," said Olga Batalina.
Maxim Topilin, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy, focused his speech on improving labor productivity. He reported that the State Duma recently passed in its first reading a bill aimed at increasing the flexibility of labor relations in the context of structural economic transformation and labor shortages.
"I believe the bill is a breakthrough. It allows employers and employees to approach labor relations more flexibly and make greater use of electronic personnel document management," said Maxim Topilin.
Deputy Chairman of the Omsk Region Government Andrey Shpilenko called sustainable development a factor in increasing the investment attractiveness of business.
"Today, being a socially responsible company is no longer just a voluntary initiative, but a new paradigm for doing business. The Business Social Capital Standard sets clear and transparent benchmarks, allowing us to identify and support those who invest in what matters most: people, the environment, and the development of their territories, not just in words. For businesses, this means new opportunities and additional support tools. For the region, it means a stronger reputation, social stability, and investment attraction, as a transparent evaluation system will increase investor confidence in projects implemented in our region," said Andrey Shpilenko.
Representatives of major companies—PhosAgro CEO Alexander Gilgenberg, Delo Group CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors Sergey Shishkarev, OMK President Natalia Eremina, and Metalloinvest Deputy CEO for Sustainable Development Yulia Mazanova—emphasized caring for their workforces and residents in the regions where they operate as an absolute priority of the corporate social policy of responsible companies. This is the foundation upon which high production performance is achieved, new high-tech jobs are created, and innovation is developed. They shared practical experiences of responsible business practices, taking into account socio-demographic priorities and maintaining public health.
In particular, PhosAgro CEO Alexander Gilgenberg presented the company's experience with social programs, which were recognized as winners of the "Responsible Business Leaders" award for 2023 and 2024.
For 25 years now—since PhosAgro's founding in 2001—caring for our workforce and all residents of the regions where we operate has been our absolute priority. It is on this foundation that we set production records every year, create new capacities, develop innovations, and increase tax revenues. For two years in a row, PhosAgro has allocated a record 14 billion rubles to social and charitable projects. We support the government's extensive efforts to raise physically and spiritually healthy youth through the "Children of Russia – Education, Health, and Spirituality" (DROZD) project, train professional personnel starting from school, create a comfortable urban environment, and develop local healthcare systems. PhosAgro's dedicated corporate program is a key contributor to our national goals aimed at supporting families. It includes financial assistance for employee families, a company-wide housing program, children's and family recreation and leisure activities, the creation of conditions for sports, voluntary health insurance programs, and wellness programs. All of this is spelled out in the collective agreements in effect at all of the Group's enterprises, which experts have recognized as the best in the industry," emphasized Alexander Gilgenberg.
Ksenia Tagirova, Deputy Director of the Development and International Business Unit and Director of Medicine at Rosatom State Corporation; Yuri Udalov, General Director of the A.I. Burnazyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center; and Dmitry Kolchugin, Executive Director of External Communications at AFK Sistema, discussed their breakthrough projects, technological and digital innovations, responsible investment tools, and their impact on social aspects of society and environmental issues.
Vladimir Gusakov, CEO of the Analytical Credit Rating Agency (ACRA), Vladimir Lukin, Partner in the Operational Risk and Sustainable Development Group at KEPT, and Irina Bakhtina, Deputy CEO for Sustainable Development at EN, discussed tools for assessing a business's contribution to national development goals, the results of company assessment studies, including those taking into account sustainable development factors, experience with their application and practical use, and development trends in this area.
At the conclusion of the forum, it was noted that developing dialogue and strengthening trust between business, government, and society remains key to the effectiveness of joint efforts in the interests of sustainable socioeconomic development and the achievement of national goals.
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